To live badly, unreasonably, intemperately does not mean to live badly, but to die slowly
The ultimate goal is a state in which the soul is calm and balanced.
An envious person causes grief to himself, as if to his enemy.
Many who commit the most shameful acts speak beautiful speeches.
Bad people do not honor oaths taken in a desperate situation after
got rid of him.
Only love can put an end to love reproaches.
Medicine is the sister of philosophy.
Those who read poorly should first of all be ashamed of themselves.
Small services rendered on time are the greatest benefits to those who receive them.
A person must be judged not only by his deeds, but also by his aspirations.
Death
Democritus, according to a number of sources, was a long-liver and lived for more than a hundred years without stopping his scientific studies. Among the legends about him, stories about the old age and death of Democritus occupy a special place.
At the end of his life, Democritus lost his sight. There were various rumors around this fact. Many said that Democritus himself deliberately deprived himself of his sight, they even described how: he concentrated a ray of the sun in a concave copper mirror (shield) and, directing it at his eyes, burned them out. He did this allegedly for the purpose of preventing the light, sensually perceived by the eye, from overshadowing the sharpness of his mind. Some researchers believe that if this is fiction, it is very plausible, since it emphasizes the internal inconsistency inherent in Democritus and distinguishes him from Epicurus: Democritus, despairing of knowledge; deprives himself of his sight.
This is, of course, fiction. The method of blinding here is fantastic, Plutarch called this story a lie. The whole story is apparently based on Democritus’ theory of clear and dark knowledge, as well as on his doctrine of burning mirrors. However, the legend is typical. It is not surprising to lose sight at the age of 90 or more, especially since Democritus’ color theory makes one think of some kind of anomaly in his eyes. For the “empirical natural scientist,” who used experience and observation, vision was necessary. But, having gone blind, Democritus courageously believed that now he would be able to fully delve into the study of intelligible truth. He considered this truth to be deeply hidden and often contrary to sensory perception. This also applied to moral truths. According to Cicero, “Democritus, having lost his sight, could not distinguish white from black, but he could distinguish between good and bad, fair and unjust, noble and shameful, useful and harmful, great and small; not being able to distinguish colors, he could live happily, but without a correct assessment of things he could not.” In later sources, the motivations for Democritus’s supposed self-blinding change. The most amazing version (quite worthy of a Christian ascetic) was expressed by Tertullian: “Democritus blinded himself because he could not look at women without lust...”. This is in old age?! Truly, enmity towards the “godless” and the materialist blinds without burning glasses. Democritus, busy with science, did not pay attention to women. He even believed that it was better for a philosopher and sage not to have children of his own. But he did not preach asceticism, and among the subjects of his scientific research were questions of embryology.
When Democritus felt that he was already completely weak, he, like Anaxagoras, voluntarily died.
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To live badly, unreasonably, intemperately does not mean to live badly, but to die slowly. Democritus
Seven deadly sins and seven virtues Abstinence
Strength of character consists of two things: willpower and self-restraint; therefore, for its existence, it requires two more things: strong feelings and strong power over them. F. Robertson Grace upon grace is a shameful wife, and there is no worthy measure for a continent soul. Bible (Sir 26, 18–19)
Leighton F. Clytia
- Strength of character consists of two things: willpower and self-restraint; therefore, for its existence, it requires two more things: strong feelings and strong power over them. F. Robertson
- Grace upon grace is a bashful woman, and there is no worthy measure for an abstinent soul. Bible (Sir 26, 18–19)
- The husband show his wife due favor; likewise is a wife to her husband. The wife has no power over her body, but the husband does; Likewise, the husband has no power over his body, but the wife does. Do not deviate from each other, except by agreement, for a while, to exercise in fasting and prayer, and then be together again, so that Satan does not tempt you with your intemperance. Bible (1 Cor 7, 3–5)
- Loyalty in love requires abstinence, but only with its help can one learn the innermost charm of love. R. Tagore
- For abstinence, it is safer not to know what you could strive for. I. Stridonsky
- There is a limit beyond which abstinence ceases to be a virtue. E. Burke
- Moderation... is closer to abstinence and, perhaps, more difficult than abstinence: after all, it is easier to give up something completely than to maintain moderation. Seneca
- Sexual life was given to man in order to lead him astray. This is his opium. She puts everything to sleep. Without her, things come to life again. On the other hand, abstinence prevents prolongation of the family - this, perhaps, is the truth. A. Camus
- To live badly, unreasonably, intemperately does not mean to live badly, but to die slowly. Democritus
- We shorten our lives with our intemperance, with our ugly treatment of our own body. I. P. Pavlov
- We sacrifice more for our intemperance than we give for our needs. J. Buffon
- The opinion that intemperance is generated by the laws of nature is wrong; on the contrary, it is a violation of them; modesty and self-control are what these laws prescribe. C. Montesquieu
- For all those who indulge in the pleasures of the stomach and go beyond the proper limit in food, wine or the pleasures of love, the pleasures are short-lived and fleeting, lasting only while they eat or drink, while the suffering resulting from this intemperance is numerous and long-lasting. Democritus
- An intemperate tongue is the worst of evils. Euripides
- Every abstinence requires effort, but of all such efforts, the most difficult is the effort of tongue abstinence. It is also the most necessary. L. N. Tolstoy
- All intemperance is the germ of suicide; this is an invisible flow under the house, which sooner or later will undermine its foundation. D. Blackie
- Reprove unreasonableness - ignorance is the fruit, This abstinence, if science is your faithful stronghold, And the seal of shame will mark the selfish ones gradually. Agahi
- The best lot is not to abstain from pleasures, but to rule over them without submitting to them. Aristippus
Cosmology of the "laughing philosopher"
Democritus called space the “Great Void.” According to the scientist’s theory, the primordial chaos gave birth to a vortex in the great void. The result of the vortex was the asymmetry of the Universe, subsequently the appearance of a center and outskirts. Heavy bodies, displacing light ones, accumulate in the middle. The cosmic center, as the philosopher believed, is the planet Earth. The earth consists of heavy atoms, the upper shells are made of light ones.
Democritus is considered an adherent of the theory of the plurality of worlds. The concept implies an infinite number and size; growth trend, stop and decrease; the different densities of worlds in different places of the great void; the presence of luminaries, their absence or multiplicity; absence of animal and plant life.
Since our planet is the center of the universe, it has no need to move. Although in the previous theory Democritus believed that she was in motion, but for certain reasons she stopped her path.
The cosmologist suggested that the Earth has a centrifugal force that prevents celestial bodies from falling on it. The thinker's scientific view examined the connection between the removal of celestial objects from the Earth and the slowing down of their speed.
It was Democritus who suggested that the Milky Way is nothing more than a cluster of a huge number of microscopic stars located in such close proximity to each other that they form a single glow.
The principle of lack of sufficient reason - isonomy
Democritus in his atomistic teaching relied on the methodological principle of isonomy, that is, the absence of a sufficient basis. In more detail, the formulation boils down to the following - any possible phenomenon has already existed or will ever exist, because there is no logical proof that any phenomenon existed in the established form and not in any other. The following conclusion follows from Democratic atomism: if a specific body has the ability to exist in various forms, these forms are real. Democritus's isonomy suggests:
- Atoms come in incredibly different sizes and shapes;
- Each cosmic point of vacuum has equal rights in relation to the other;
- The cosmic movement of atoms has a versatile direction and speed.
The last rule of isonomy means that movement is an independent inexplicable phenomenon, only its changes are subject to explanation.
Ataraxian philosophy of Democritus
It was previously described that the ancient Greek sage showed interest in many areas of human activity, medicine was no exception.
The concept of ataraxia was vital for the philosopher. Ataraxia is defined as a mental state of a person, characterized by absolute fearlessness against the background of emotional shock. Democritus attributed this state of soul to a person’s acquisition of wisdom and experience. It can be achieved through the desire for self-improvement and penetration into the mysteries of the universe. Philosophical schools of antiquity became interested in the ataraxic philosophical thought of the thinker (Epicurean, skeptical, Stoic schools).
But Democritus suggests not only learning, knowing, self-improvement, but also thinking. He compares the thought process with knowledge, where the first still dominates.
The philosopher's ataraxia provides a reasoned explanation of the pattern of events. Teaches you to use the ability to remain silent, which takes precedence over talkativeness. The above dogmas are true.
Democritus short biography (460 - 360 BC)
Democritus quotes.
Democritus of Abdera was an ancient Greek philosopher. Born into a noble family. Traveled through Egypt, Persia, India, Ethiopia. Avmop 50 treatises. According to his theory, only atoms and emptiness exist. Atoms are indivisible material elements (geometric bodies, “figures”), eternal, indestructible, impenetrable, differ in shape, position in emptiness, size; moving in different directions, from their “vortices” both individual bodies and all countless worlds are formed. Atoms are invisible to humans; the outflows from them, acting on the sense organs, cause sensations. In ethics he developed the doctrine (the doctrine of Democritus) about atharxia. In total, he wrote about 70 essays on moral, natural science, mathematical, and technical topics. The most famous among them are “Pythagoras”, “On the spiritual mood of a sage”, “On courage or virtue”, “Small world building”, “On nature”, “On human nature”, “On poetry”.
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Democritus and his theory of atoms
The atomic materialism of the ancient atomist comes from his theory of atoms, which strikingly reflects the conclusions of 20th century materialists.
The ability of an ancient thinker to construct a theory about the structure of elementary particles, without being able to confirm it with scientific research, is admirable. How talented and brilliant this man was. Living thousands of years ago, he almost unmistakably penetrated into one of the most difficult to substantiate mysteries of the universe. An atom and a molecule, being in continuous random motion within outer space, contribute to the formation of hurricane vortices and material bodies. The difference in their properties is explained by the shaped and dimensional diversity. Democritus put forward a theory (without empirically possible provability) about changes in the human body when exposed to atomic radiation.
Ethics of Democritus
The philosophers of ancient Greece had a special attitude towards ethics, each focusing on his own favorite virtue. For the Abdera thinker, it was a sense of proportion. The measure reflects the behavior of an individual based on his internal potential. Satisfaction, measured by measure, ceases to be a sensory sensation and develops into good.
The thinker believed: in order for society to achieve harmony, a person must experience euthumia - a state of serene, devoid of extremes disposition of the soul. The idea of euthymia promotes sensual pleasures and exalts blissful tranquility.
The Greek philosopher also believed that an important aspect of finding happiness is wisdom. Wisdom can only be achieved through the acquisition of knowledge. Anger, hatred, and other vices breed in ignorance.
